The condition has left the youngster unable to walk by herself but after researching pioneering surgery available in Missouri, mum Amy and dad Matthew are desperately trying to raise the funds to give their daughter a new start.

Mae has already been accepted for the operation that involves carefully cutting the nerve fibres in her spine to improve her movement, but now the family need the funds to pay for it.

Mum Amy, 28, of Birch Road, Cantley, who also has sons eight-year-old Dylan and four-year-old Oliver said: “The success rate of the surgeon in America is 100 per cent and he has been performing the operation for 25 years. I read about another little girl who had the same condition as Mae and after the surgery was walking around. I couldn’t believe it.

“Mae is such a determined little girl and she has amazed us with her progress. We didn’t think she’d ever be able to talk but she has started to say mummy and dadda.

“But however hard she tries she can’t stand or walk on her own. She sees her brother running around and she tries to copy them but she just can’t.

“She is such a lovely little girl, always smiling. Her nan says her smile lights up the room.

“This surgery would give Mae and new start in life. Instead of living life on her knees she would have a new form of independence.

“For her to be able to walk into our bedroom by herself in a morning is something I would’ve never though possible but this surgery can help her do this.

“She deserves this chance and I am hoping to drum up as much support as we can.” Visit Hope4Mae Just Giving Page Follow on Twitter @hope4mae or search Hope4Mae on Facebook